Facts an Issue in Anaheim Vote

On Tuesday, voters in Anaheim will have an opportunity to vote on Measure Y, a school bond to raise funds for the construction and modernization of Anaheim elementary schools.

The district has demonstrated the need: Schools are severely overcrowded, serving 7,000 more students than they were designed to hold. School district projections, business projections and local university projections all show continued growth for the next decade. Current enrollment makes the district eligible for eight additional schools.

The district has demonstrated a conscientious effort to accommodate growth in the most efficient ways: Schools have been remodeled, over 200 portables have been added, year-round schedules have been implemented in all schools. Staggered sessions will double capacity in grades one and two. Administrative costs have been kept low and expenditures curtailed to reserve any available funds for facilities.

But options are simply running out. Regular operational school funding was never intended to be adequate for major school construction and modernization needs. The law mandates that all children attend school, but there is no mandate requiring adequate funds and space to house them. Severe overcrowding and crisis schedules are jeopardizing educational quality and placing an unfair burden on families and child care needs.

As the baby boom echo arrives at the school house door, Anaheim voters have an opportunity to say “yes” to children, education and the future. The children of Anaheim are surrounded by a world-class city, a world-class entertainment industry and a world-class business. Community members also deserve to have world-class schools. A strong school system, including adequate facilities, strengthens community life and invests in tomorrow’s citizens.

A “Yes” vote on Measure Y will be a definite win for the Anaheim community, children, parents and property values.

ROBERTA THOMPSON

Superintendent

Anaheim City School District

* On April 4, you reported on the lack of support by Anaheim businesses for a $48-million bond issue for school construction.

The voters spoke overwhelmingly to this issue with Proposition 187. The overcrowding in the Anaheim schools is caused largely by students and/or their parents who belong under the jurisdiction of another sovereign. Under 187, the citizens and merchants of Anaheim would not be obligated to spend the fruits of their labor to pay for this malady.

In spite of expansionist interpretations by activist judges, the 14th Amendment was never intended to apply to foreigners, aliens or illegals. The issue was settled in 1866 before the draft ever went to the House floor.

In the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Bingham asked Chairman James Wilson if the bill applied to foreigners and aliens. Wilson responded that of course it did not. Debates over the rights of the “alien and stranger” concluded that all the rights to which the latter were entitled had already been provided in the Fifth Amendment. These rights included life, liberty and property, and due process of law. No more, no less.

If the Anaheim City School District needs $48 million to compensate for the consequences of educating the children of illegals, let them petition the governments to which these people owe their allegiance for it. Let the law-abiding citizens and legal residents, and the children of both, keep the fruits of their labor.

BRUCE CRAWFORD

Fountain Valley

* I have been a trustee on the Anaheim City School District Board since 1977.

Some opponents to Measure Y have not verified the information they are disseminating. There are no counselors in the elementary district and there are eight nurses for 22 schools. There are no lavish or luxury administrative offices in the Anaheim City School District, and there is no gross mismanagement of funds. The district’s so-called luxury and lavish headquarters is a renovated warehouse and engineering complex.

Homeowners have a vested interest in passing Measure Y. The only alternative to the current overcrowding, without additional funds, is double session, which means one-half of the student population will be coming home after 5 p.m. Placing this district on double session will substantially lower residential property values in Anaheim, yet the district is simply out of options without construction funds.

The school buildings in the Anaheim district range between 31 and 63 years old, and many schools already have over 1,000 students a year. There is only one other elementary district in California with a larger student population than the Anaheim Elementary School District.

The Anaheim district has done everything it can to accommodate enrollment and save taxpayers, portable classrooms, and staggered scheduling. Portable classrooms are now taking up playground space on many sites. Jefferson II, the so-called new school, was the old bus maintenance garage and warehouse for the district. The buildings were remodeled into classrooms.

Anaheim City School District is known for being a fiscally conservative school district, and every innovative and creative idea possible has been used. Facilities maintenance has always been a high priority, but there simply is no more classroom space. Everything has been done to accommodate students with the facilities and funds that have been available.

Some districts with new housing receive money to build schools from Mello-Roos fees. In Anaheim, we are dependent on the passage of a bond.

It is always up to the older generation to make sure that younger generations have a chance for a quality education.

I urge you to vote “Yes” on Measure Y on Tuesday.

BETTY PATTERSON

Anaheim school board member

* The school board and the administrative staff have shortchanged students and thumbed their nose at the voting public for years. They have protected their perks and their special programs but they have not protected the community. They have bought into every trendy and misguided education idea they could get their hands on.

1. Look-say and whole language non-reading “reading.” They have done away with the spelling bee and resisted phonics.

2. “Self esteem” and “peer counseling” discipline policies--self-indulgence masquerading as “character building.”

3. Group math where students “vote” on the answers and where “memorization” is a bad word.

4. Weak science instruction with “science kits” that are seldom used.

5. A bilingual program which succeeds in small degree but fails massively, and which discriminates against, devalues, insults, and degrades those who already speak English--those who want to learn English.

I have learned by experience over 40 years as a high school teacher how regularly the public is misled and fooled by school board members and by “staff.” Here in Anaheim, the situation is worse than in most places. The board and staff have succumbed to a dumbing-down program for all students which seems almost ideological.

As a result of the above experiences I have no confidence at all in what they tell me about anything, including overcrowding, real and potential options, and financial condition. Until they show a better interest in building minds and bodies I will vote “No” on building more schools.

HAL RICE

Anaheim

* As a teacher and parent in the Anaheim City School District, I was astounded that Disneyland has not done what’s best for children and endorsed Measure Y.

I am even more puzzled by the lack of support from the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce and City Council. A city with an overcrowded, underfunded school district does not attract new businesses or residents.

Councilman Bob Zemel says, “If you don’t spend the money right over the course of 30 years, 30 years later when the school is old, you don’t have money to maintain it.” The Anaheim City School District has always had the reputation of being a fiscally conservative district, not one to spend its money quickly or foolishly. Councilman Zemel knows not of what he speaks. The school I teach at was constructed to house 400 students; current enrollment is 1,100. The number of bathrooms remains as originally built. Playgrounds have actually decreased in size with the placement of portable classrooms. Sixty faculty members stand in line to use the three restrooms. Closets have become offices; hallways have become classrooms. Beginning in July, morning students will attend school until 1 p.m.; afternoon students, until 4 p.m. The lack of support from the Anaheim business community is disheartening. The few business leaders who have visited the schools have left in disbelief at what our schools are accomplishing under present conditions.

According to the state, the Anaheim City School District qualifies for eight new schools due to enrollment. Unfortunately, the state has no money to fund them. The school district’s reserve cannot pay for them. Measure Y is our best hope and what’s best for the children.

CATHERINE RODRIGUEZ

Anaheim